(Ecofin Agency) - The Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the DRC is the largest in Africa and is set to become the second largest in the world in the coming years. The mine should produce about 500,000 tons of copper concentrate this year.

Ivanhoe Mines announced on May 28 the successful completion of Phase 3 of the mine's development, increasing its annual production capacity to over 600,000 tonnes.

#News - @IvanhoeMines_ completes construction of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 concentrator ahead of schedule and on budget. Read full news release ?https://t.co/evUhF3o4bP pic.twitter.com/qAoZSoQSmv

— Ivanhoe Mines (@IvanhoeMines_) May 28, 2024

With this capacity, Kamoa-Kakula is now the fourth-largest copper mining complex globally. The first copper concentrate from the new unit is expected in June 2024, with commercial production scheduled for the third quarter.

"We are now studying options to boost copper production towards our next goal of 800,000 tonnes per annum … a production rate that would propel the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex towards being one of the two largest copper producers on our planet," said Ivanhoe Mines founder and co-executive chairman Robert Friedland.

Kamoa-Kakula is already the largest copper mine in the DRC and Africa, coming into production in 2021 and expected to produce 440 to 490,000 tons of copper concentrate in 2024.